Monday, January 26, 2015

Zoya Naturel Satins

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have Zoya'sNaturel Satin Collection to share with you! This is a collection of six neutrals with a satin finish. I think some people might have been expecting a full matte finish with these polishes, but I think the easiest way to explain it is to think of them in terms of paint finishes. Flat or matte paint finishes have no sheen and don't reflect light at all, while satin paint finishes have just the slightest hint of sheen which softens them up a bit, and that is exactly what you see with Zoya's Satin finish.

First I will talk about the formula on these since it was pretty much identical across the board. These have a creamy base that, as I mentioned, dries down to a satin finish. These are meant to be worn without basecoat or topcoat, so that is how I swatched them. They dried relatively quickly, so I found it was best to work fast and not go over the same spots multiple times (pretty standard for these types of finishes). Opacity was good on these and I used 1 thinner coat and one thicker coat for all of these swatches. Whenever I use a polish that I don't use topcoat on and/or is quick drying, I always find that it works best to make the second coat a thicker coat and sort of "float" it on (which means don't apply a lot of pressure with the brush) to make your final coat very smooth and even, and that worked beautifully with these polishes. You definitely don't HAVE to do that, but it's just an application tip that really helps me. Overall though, the formula was easy for me to work with and that is fantastic for a satin/matte type of finish because I know that some that I've worked with in the past have had chalky, horrific formulas.
So now let's get on to the polishes themselves! You will see on the macro shots that when viewed up close these polishes look like they have some slight bit of texture (sort of like an eggshell) but you really don't see texture when you view your nails at a normal distance, it just sort of blurs together and creates the soft satin look.

Leah is a lavender-tinged taupe creme with a satin finish. This has just the slightest bit of a purple undertone to it that makes it a bit unique from a standard taupe.

Rowan is a suede taupe creme with a satin finish. Taupe is a classic shade, and the satin finish just gives it a chic twist.

Sage is a mossy sage green creme with a satin finish. This is definitely a dusty green that reads really neutral, so lovely!

Tove is a misty slate grey with a satin finish. This is a nice cool grey that I'm really digging!

Brittany is a rose mauve creme with a satin finish. I love how flattering this pink is! I always tend to lean towards pinky neutrals, and this one was one of my favorites!

Ana is a light toasted almond creme with a satin finish. This was another favorite for me! This one almost would have benefited from 1 additional coat, so I guess I would say it was just a touch thinner than the others. I really loved this neutral as well and I found it to be a unique shade among my current neutrals.

Zoya polishes are available at Zoya.com and other retailers that carry Zoya polishes. Be sure to follow Zoya on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on new collections and deals. The Zoya Naturel Satins Collection are available now online and in stores where Zoya polishes are sold. What do you think about the satin finish? Which are your favorites? Thanks for looking everyone!